THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE ON FACEBOOK: AMERICAN AND INDIAN ELITE PRESS PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

The media's coverage of the 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) reflects political dynamics and national objectives. This study explores BRI's coverage on Facebook News by examining articles from prominent American and Indian elite press. In this study, the framing theory serves as the theoretical framework. The content analysis is used as a research method. The data has been collected from the two American outlets, which are The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, and the two Indian outlets, which are The Times of India, and The Asian Age, from 1 October 2021 to 31 October 2022. Through this comparative lens, we aim to clarify the divergent perspectives and underlying motivations shaping the portrayal of BRI, providing valuable insights into the complexities of international media representation and its implications for global perceptions and policy considerations. The first finding is that Indian and American publications' Facebook news stories portray the BRI more politically. The second study indicates that both American and Indian publications regularly frame BRI in terms of QUAD's strategic aims. The third study found that elite media in the United States and India are more likely to view BRI from an economic perspective. The fourth and last finding is that Facebook news in American and Indian media portrays the BRI negatively.